Kaizer Chiefs lack squad depth after Soweto Derby defeat, says Innocent Chikoya

Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s Soweto Derby exposed a lack of strength in depth, according to former Orlando Pirates left-back Innocent Chikoya.

Chikoya believes Chiefs’ starting line-up is capable of competing with the leading sides in the league, but says the club does not currently have enough experienced substitutes to maintain that level throughout a full 90 minutes.

The Glamour Boys took an early lead at the Orlando Amstel Arena but were eventually beaten by their rivals in a match that followed two contrasting patterns. Chiefs were competitive during the first half, yet offered little after the interval as Orlando Pirates turned the game around.

The absence of key players has further complicated Chiefs’ options. Major signings Langelihle Phili and Khanyisa Mayo remain sidelined by long-term injuries, leaving the club with fewer alternatives from the bench.

Chikoya argued that the contrasting ways the two coaches used their substitutes provided a clear indication of the difference between the squads.

“Kaizer Chiefs are not in the same category as Orlando Pirates at present,” Chikoya told KickOff.

“The dynamics at Pirates at the moment are formidable. This Pirates side reminds me of the team from the Brandon Silent and Helman Mkhalele era. Chiefs caused problems in the first half, but there was little from them in the second. They do not have enough depth on the bench.”

The former Pirates defender said Chiefs needed a player capable of changing the contest when their initial approach stopped working.

“In the second half, Chiefs needed a player who could provide a Plan B. They did not cope, and they did not have a second option,” he added.

For Chikoya, the derby demonstrated that Chiefs can impose themselves on opponents during periods of a match, but remain vulnerable when their starting players cannot sustain the required intensity.

He said Orlando Pirates were able to call on stronger alternatives as the game progressed, while Chiefs could not find a substitute capable of offering a different solution.

The defeat was therefore not only a setback in the Soweto Derby, but also an illustration of the gap Chiefs must address if they are to compete consistently with the league’s leading teams.